New York emcee City Haze straddles the industry’s doorsteps with his own unique impartial brand of music. Not conforming to what’s popular, Haze feels he will soon be able to supply good music to listeners everywhere. Haze’s has a single on iTunes “Tell Me What’s Good” featuring R&B crooner K.O., plus his “Lost In Tokyo” single, produced by RZA, ignites curiosity. With a deal through Starr Scream Entertainment/Universal Music Group, that curiosity may soon be quenched.
 
With both New York as his backdrop and a versatile, challenging sound City Haze is arguably bigger abroad than he is in his own backyard. That may soon change, with an album coming and a growing movement of music. Meet DXnext’s return to the five boroughs with a man whose rhymes are anything but foggy, City Haze.

Progressive Music: “My sound can be described as progressive basically because of the production that I choose to go over. It’s really smooth and not that bang-bang, shoot em’ up music. I’m not a “backpack” rapper of sorts [either]. I like to flow over a storytelling track or a club track. My favorite beats use guitars or violins. I’m progressive in the sense that New York City rappers have been become identified as ‘boom-bap’ kind of artists since the early/mid-’90s, however, I’m not the prototypical New York City emcee. I like harmony and work with a lot of vocalist.”
 
International Player: “[My fans in Japan and the United Kingdom are] real big for me especially with me being such a fan of Hip Hop myself and understanding its roots and where it comes from. I want to give a big shout out to Rap-Up magazine who had featured me in a magazine last year. That built up my fan base a lot. A lot of people over there respect what I do so I value my UK fan-base.”

Domestic Or Imported: “It’s a little different because it’s a different market over there. The Hip Hop fans over there are real loyal they give a lot of US rappers love over there. I just enjoy doing music for everybody. I will be performing overseas towards the beginning of the summer which I am definitely looking forward too. I will also be taking a trip over to Tokyo soon.”

Working With The RZA: “[Starr Scream] was able to plug me in with RZA’s people to get the track. I was actually looking for something really different to record over ’cause everybody knows Haze for putting out singles for the ladies. I needed something different just to show people where my level of lyricism was. I just went completely left field with ‘Lost in Tokyo’ and the response was great. To work with a legend like RZA was definitely a great experience.”

Be A Part Of It, That Ol’ New York: “I’m just different I think that everybody expects that type of gritty emcee since I’m from New York. I think that New York is still looking for its next breakthrough rapper. We haven’t had a new rapper come out and do well in a long time. New York definitely needs a young mainstream artist for this generation. I don’t feel like it’s my mission to bring New York back. I don’t feel like that’s my mission at all because you can’t bring back that era of music. You can’t look back. The only thing for me to do is elevate the Rap game. Those are the only shoes that I’m trying to fill. I’m trying to pave the way for the next generation.”

Fan Mail: “I just appreciate all of the support. Shout outs to all the Internet websites and magazines that show me love on a regular basis. I’m glad that everyone enjoys what I do. And I’m grateful to all the fans.”